Padua
Friday, June 29, 2018
During my time in Italy, I have had the chance to visit some of the most famous cities in the world: Rome, Florence, Venice, and Naples. But I was surprised to find that many of my favorite places in Italy have been lesser visited cities. On Monday, I traveled with my tour group to Padua. This city was home to a famous man named Anthony who lived in the early 1200's. He was a friend of Francis of Assisi and also believed in living a simple life caring for the poor and the sick and working for peace. Behind me you will see a church dedicated in Anthony's honor.
Notice the shape of the domes on this church. They do not look like those you find in Rome and other parts of Italy. Padua and nearby Venice are located in northeastern Italy. Some of the buildings you see in these cities look like a mix of Italian and Middle Eastern architecture. In history, this part of Italy interacted quite a bit with the Arab world, so they borrowed some of the same building styles you might find in Egypt and other Arab countries. I found these domes and towers to be very unique and beautiful.
Notice the shape of the domes on this church. They do not look like those you find in Rome and other parts of Italy. Padua and nearby Venice are located in northeastern Italy. Some of the buildings you see in these cities look like a mix of Italian and Middle Eastern architecture. In history, this part of Italy interacted quite a bit with the Arab world, so they borrowed some of the same building styles you might find in Egypt and other Arab countries. I found these domes and towers to be very unique and beautiful.
Padua is also a place with delicious foods. Our tour group was served a "light dinner" on Monday evening. This "light dinner" is about the amount I might eat for a regular dinner back home!
When you travel to a new country, you learn a lot about its culture. And sometimes you make mistakes. I have mispronounced a few Italian words along the way. Usually people just look at you with sympathy and speak back to you in English. While visiting a restaurant in Padua, I set my hat down on the table next to me. The waiter immediately came past, gave me a look, and moved it onto a chair. I guess you're not supposed to set your hat on a table in Italy! Italians really value good table manners, and eating is a special time of day. We Americans are used to ordering to-go drinks and eating as we work. This is not done in Italy. In fact, you almost never see an Italian walk down the street eating or drinking--even water! In one of the churches we visited, our tour director became very upset when she saw some visitors walk in wearing short pants and flip flops. This is also a no-no in Italy. I have also noticed that Italians are a lot more patient than Americans when waiting in line somewhere. That said, Italians are much less patient when you get in their way on the street, in a store, or in the airport or train station. They will quickly find a way around you or gently push past, even if it means they are now in your way. You just go with it.
Below, I have pictured some of the money used here. Italy, Malta, and 17 other countries in Europe share the same kind of currency. They use the Euro. Like the U.S. Dollar, there are 100 cents in 1 Euro.
Below, I have pictured some of the money used here. Italy, Malta, and 17 other countries in Europe share the same kind of currency. They use the Euro. Like the U.S. Dollar, there are 100 cents in 1 Euro.